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Abstract

A method of and apparatus for removing a slurry having shear-thinning visco-plastic rheological properties from a reservoir containing a body of the slurry of such high viscosity that removal is impractical by conventional means, such as gravity flow or suction. The method comprises creating a flow of shear-thinned slurry in a submerged region of the body of slurry to entrain adjacent slurry of high viscosity, and then transferring some of the reduced viscosity slurry from the reservoir. The flow of shear-thinned slurry may be produced by withdrawing slurry from an outlet point in a region of the body of slurry to create a flow of withdrawn slurry, subjecting the flow of withdrawn slurry to shear conditions to form a withdrawn slurry of reduced apparent viscosity, and introducing the withdrawn slurry of reduced apparent viscosity into the region of the body at an inlet point therein spaced from the outlet point, the inlet and outlet points in the region being positioned relative to each other to create a flow or stream of slurry of reduced apparent viscosity through the region carrying therewith slurry of higher viscosity, and removing some of the slurry withdrawn from the region permanently from the reservoir. The apparatus provides conduits and a shear-generating device communicating with the reservoir and an outlet conduit for slurry permanently withdrawn from the reservoir.

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